[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORT THE COMMANDO FUNDING

  (Ms. SANCHEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to illustrate the grave 
implications which resulted from the untimely failure of Congress to 
approve the supplemental appropriations bill.
  Included in the supplemental is $20 million in payments to former 
South Vietnamese commandos who were trained by and worked for the U.S. 
Government during the Vietnam war. The Pentagon failed to carry out the 
will of the 104th Congress to compensate these brave men for their 
service to this Nation, especially for their time in captivity.
  Tragically, the Pentagon delayed and four commandos perished in the 
last year. Now, while this body recessed and failed to pass the 
supplemental appropriations bill, a fifth commando has also perished.
  Duong Lang Sang was captured in 1966 by the North Vietnamese 
Government while working for the United States. After 16 years in hard 
labor as a prisoner of war he was finally released in 1982. After his 
release he suffered many illnesses arising from his torture.
  Two weeks ago, Mr. Sang passed away in Chicago as a result of those 
injuries. He has left behind a widow and two school-aged children. 
Please join me in asserting that we pass the supplemental 
appropriations bill so that these soldiers would not have died in vain.

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